Monday, 16 September 2013

Double Snipe

So I tried to do the right thing. Big westerlies and rain and the thought that surely yesterday's Great Snipe wouldn't still be at Spurn made my decision to go looking for wind blown skuas at Hes East the birding destination of choice. Not much doing, though 12 Snipe were seemingly taunting me, reminding me of their large Polish cousin out east. Plenty of ducks, with one Wigeon, 3 Pochard and c25 Tufted Ducks on the lake, though numbers of Teal were down on the west lagoons. Plenty of Linnets around and the semi-resident Greenshank. Then the news started to arrive of the Great Snipe giving crippling views...

An hour and a quarter of frenetic driving later, I pulled up at Kilnsea and jogged round on to Beacon Lane. Steve Exley immediately got me into the viewing position by a wall looking behind a gate on to a bit of rough land by a building. At first I couldn't see anything as I peered into the gloom under some scrub. But then I realised the green stripes I was looking at were the legs of the snipe, literally ten feet away, sitting on the grass right out in the open. Unbelievable!

For the next hour or so, those present had incredible views of this stunningly beautiful wader as it performed superbly, feeding actively on the grass and under the bushes, interspersed with a few naps. At times, it went for a wander, sometimes coming rediculously close. What a bird! I never thought I would see this species this well ever, with plenty of time to scrutinize every feather. The bird was in immaculate plumage and presumably a first calendar year, but I am not sure about the ageing of Snipes.

Great Snipes used to be known as Double Snipes, presumably because they were twice the bulk of a Common Snipe and therefore had more meat on them! Records are much scarcer these days than they used to be, so this bird was a welcome addition to many Yorkshire lists, including mine!

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At Wheldrake Ings, 2017

Northern Latitude Birding Attitude

About me...

Follow me on Twitter: @birdingdad

If you see anything interesting in the York area, please email me recorder@yorkbirding.org.uk

I am a birder from York, who became a Dad in April 2008 (and again in March 2010). I birded York until 1993 when I went off to UEA in Norwich. After spending some time in Madagascar and Indonesia, I ended up in Cambridgeshire. In May 2009 I moved away from one of the best inland birding patches, Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, to live in Norfolk. I birded the mid-Yare Valley NNR (Strumpshaw - Buckenham - Cantley) for 18 months, but have now moved back to York, where I'm from.Most of my time is spent on Dad duties and my band, Our Enemies, but when I get chance to go birding, I spend my time tramping round the York area, especially the LDV and Wheldrake Ings, and getting across to Flamborough and Filey from time to time. The rest of the time I try and work on my nature skills, checking out this and that.

I work for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (since 2010) having formerly worked at Norfolk Wildlife Trust (2009-2010) and Beds, Cambs, Northants Wildlife Trust (2001-2009).

I also do a bit of leading/guiding for Yorkshire Coast Nature and Wildlife Travel.

I am on the committee of York Ornithological Club where I am the Bird Recorder for the York Recording Area (see map).

The image at the top of the page is part of a flock of Pomarine Skuas, one of my fave birds, taken on Harris in May 2011.

My old Indybirder website, as reviewed in Birdwatch mag no less!: http://indybirder.tripod.com

UK Pan List Total: 1,346 (at 16 August 2015)

The Rare and Scarce Birds of the York Area 1965 - 2015

Available to buy now from the York Ornithological Club - click the image to visit the YOC website

Great Grey Owl

The best bird I ever saw. Great Grey Owl, Alberta.

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York area birding map (thanks to YOC)

Yank Wigeon

Found at Castle Howard, 12 Feb 16

Green-winged Teal

Found at Wheldrake Ings 20 Dec 15

Green-winged Teal, North Duffield Carrs

Found Jan 15 amongst tonnes of Teal

Dusky Warbler

Found on a guided walk at Flamborough South Landing, October 2013

Short-toed Lark, Aird an Rhunair

We found this mini lark in the machair near the skua watch point, May 2013

Pallid Swift, Flamborough

My first good Yorkshire find since returning to the county, Flamborough Oct 2011

Pectoral Sandpiper, Grafham Water

Mark Hawkes and myself found this Pectoral Sandpiper flying over at Grafham Water, Sept 07, fortunately, it landed on the muddy shore.

Laughing Gull, Grafham Water

Having found Cambridgeshire's first in November 2006, I was shocked to also find the second - this bird, on the dam in June 07

White-rumped Sandpiper, Grafham Water

Cambridgeshire's third and a good find at Grafham Water, in October 2006. This corker flew past with Ringos and Dunlin and landed on the shore in front of me. Corker!

Ring-necked Duck, Grafham Water

My first decent 'find' at GW, this corking drake was with the Tufties on the sludge lagoons on a sunny April morning.

Blue Rock Thrush, Porthgwarra

Ten years on from the shrike and we were back in Cornwall. Dunc proclaimed I have just seen a blue bird! And then this popped up. Britain's third and a first for mainland Cornwall. This isn't a photo of the bird.

Isabelline Shrike, Zennor

The first good bird I was involved in finding, with my folks, and old mate Duncan Poyser, at Zennor in October 1989. Cornwall's first record. This isn't a photo of the actual bird.